DRAFT Pending approval by relevant Health and Wellbeing Boards

Employment Support Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Purpose of this
document
Burden of illness
and economic
inactivity
This document reports the needs assessment and service mapping of local and national
specialist employment support for Tri-borough residents with mental illness, physical
and learning disabilities. The report also reviews the evidence of best practice and
outlines the vision for a new evidence-based service.
Across the Tri-borough area, there are high levels of economic inactivity, particularly in
relation to mental illness and physical disabilities.
Nationally, mental health conditions are the most common reason for people to be
dependent on health-related benefits (3). Tri-borough rates of severe mental illness
(SMI) are among the highest in London and England. Local levels of Incapacity Benefit
(IB) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) claims due to mental ill-health are also
high compared to London, particularly in Hammersmith and Fulham (8 th highest in
London). Paid employment rates for clients with severe mental illness in Kensington
and Chelsea (K&C) and Westminster are below the London and England averages. This
is despite the fact that nationally up to 90% of all mental health service users want to
work (1) and at least a third of those currently unemployed due to SMI would like to find
work (4).
Rates of physical disabilities are also high in parts of the Tri-borough area compared to
London, with large numbers of IB and ESA claims for physical ill-health in these areas.
Hammersmith and Fulham (H&F) has particularly high levels (12 th highest in London).
The numbers of people with learning disabilities are low in the Tri-borough area and
employment rates are on a par with London levels. However, clients with learning
disabilities have worse employment prospects than other disability groups. The current
employment rate for disabled people nationally has risen to 48% overall but remains
only 10% for those with learning disabilities (6). We know that 65% of people with
learning disabilities nationally would like a paid job (6).
Sickness absence and presenteeism (reduced productivity at work related to ill health)
are also likely to have major impacts in the Tri-borough area, based on what we know
nationally (7). Based on population size, sickness absence is estimated to cost the Triborough
economy £84 million per annum in employer costs, health and social care costs
and welfare (8). Mental illness is the number one cause of long-term sickness absence,
closely followed by musculoskeletal problems (9).
Not all people with severe mental health conditions want to be employed, but almost all want to
‘work’, that is to be engaged in some kind of valued activity that meets the expectations of others.
DWP and Department of Health joint commissioning guidance 2006 (2)
JSNA
Tri-Borough Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Report 2013 2